Earth moving machine



1964 E. D. HERSCHBERGER 3,119,193

EARTH MOVING MACHINE Filed Sept. 29, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

Ell 0. Herscfiberger 1N VEN TOR.

Jan. 28, 1964 Filed Sept. 29, 1961 E. D. HERSCHBERGER EARTH MOVINGMACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 i F /g. 4 "4 I /8 a a ll8 58 we as /22 I 0 E /i0. Herschb erger I INVENTOR. B M

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Jan. 28, 1964 E. D. HERSCHBERGER 3,119,193

EARTH MOVING MACHINE Filed Sept. 29, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 E D.Hersc/zbergeyr IN VENTOR.

Jan. 28, 1964 E. D. HERSCHBERGER 3,119,193

EARTH MOVING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept 29, 1961 Eli 0.herschberger IN VLNTOR.

BY and 5. Man.

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Ja 8, 1 E. D. HERSCHBERGER 3, 3

EARTH MOVING MACHINE Filed Sept. 29, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 E If D.Herschberger IN VEN TOR. @614. .BY 24 Attorney:

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EARTH MOVING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 29, 1961 QNN E l1 0.Herscfiberger INVENTOR BY Hm,

United States Patent Oil-ice 3,119,193 Patented Jan. 28, 19564 3,119,193EARTH MQVllNG MACHINE Eli ll). Herschherger, RR. 2, Arthur, Ill. FiledSept. 29, 196i, Ser. No. 141,694 11 Claims. (Cl. 37-143) This inventioncomprises a novel and useful earth moving machine and more particularlyrelates to a device adapted to afford the operator a much more sensitiveand precise control of the earth moving elements of the machine in orderto effect and facilitate a superior sensitivity in the deposition of thematerial moved by the apparatus.

Basically, the apparatus in accordance with the present inventionconsists of a powered machine such as a tractor having adjustablymounted upon the front end thereof a transversely extending scoop orshovel blade by means of which earth or other material is pushed infront of and is piled during forward movement of the apparatus, togetherwith the transversely extending rotating auger mounted in the scoop andwhich conveys the earth or other material laterally of the scoop fordischarge at one side thereof. The machine of this character, inaccordance with the present invention is provided with improved poweroperating means for selectively lifting or lowering the entire scoop andanger assembly, together with additional means which are power operatedfor selectively raising or lowering one end of the scoop and augerassembly either while the lifting and lowering means is inoperative oris in operation. There are further provided improvements in the powersupplying means and in the control system for the scoop and augerassembly which enable the tractor power plant to propel the device atconsiderably varied different speed ratios with respect to asubstantially constant speed of rotation of the auger.

It is therefore the primary purpose of this invention to provide anearth moving apparatus which will enable power operated means to bothpush the earth upon forward travel of the apparatus and independentlyconvey the earth laterally thereof to a discharge at one side of theapparatus.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a device inaccordance with the foregoing objects which will afford a very sensitiveand highly adjustable control and adjustment during operation of boththe vertical elevation of the scoop and auger assembly as well as acontrol of the tilting of the latter about the horizontal axis centerline of the device.

Yet another purpose of the invention is to provide a device inaccordance with the foregoing objects which will afford a very widerange of speed ratios between the speed of travel of the apparatus andthe rotational speed of the auger.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus inaccordance with the preceding objects in which the sensitivity and therapidity of vertical and tilting adjustment or" the apparatus shall begreatly facilitated by a balancing of the weight of the auger.

Yet another important object of the invention is to provide an apparatusin which the scoop and auger assembly are so positioned with respect tothe operator that the latter will have unusually good visibility at alltimes of the position of the scoop during its operation thereby enablingthe operator to make instantaneous, precise and rapid adjustments of thescoop and auger.

An additional important object of the invention is to provide animproved means for removably assembling and journaling the auger in thescoop component of the apparatus.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide adevice having improved mounting means to facilitate tilting of the scoopabout a transverse axis during the raising and lowering of the scoop bythe power operating means therefor, and whereby the mounting andoperation of the scoop will in no way interfere with the continuousapplication of driving power to the auger for effecting rotation of thelatter.

And a further important object of the invention to be specificallyenumerated herein is to provide an earth moving machine of a generalpurpose utility especially adapted for use by small contractors andothers required to do odd jobs such as street grading, fillingexcavations and the like.

And a final object is to provide an earth moving apparatus utilizing thetraction power of the apparatus to move material forwardly by atransversely extending scraper blade and to simultaneously discharge thematerial laterally of the blade by a power operated auger mounted uponthe latter together with a pair of relatively adjustable supports forthe blade and auger assembly capable of effecting upward or downwardtilting of one end of the blade relative to the other while enablingeither independent or joint selective lifting and lowering of the entireblade and auger assembly.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view with a portion shown in horizontal sectionof a suitable form of apparatus incorporating therein the principles ofthis invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIGURE 1,certain parts being broken away to show further structural details ofthe device;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary detail view in plan illustrating a portion ofthe gear shift control means of the power drive mechanism of the device;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon theplane indicated by the broken section line 4-4 of FIGURE 2 and showingin particular certain details of the pivotal mounting of the scoop andauger, the counterbalancing of the same and the power driving meansthereof;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of theapparatus taken from the other side from that indicated in FIGURE 2 andillustrating in particular the power operating means for raising andlowering the scoop and auger assembly;

FIGURE 6 is a detail view taken in vertical section substantially uponthe plane indicated by the section line 66 of FIGURE 1 and showingfurther details of the mechanism for raising and lowering the scoop andauger assembly;

FIGURE 7 is a front elevational view of the apparatus showing inparticular the scoop and auger assembly thereof;

FIGURE 8 is a rear elevational View of the scope and auger assembly ofFIGURE 7, being taken upon an enlarged scale with parts being shown invertical transverse section;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged detail view taken in vertical sectionsubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 99 of FIGURE8 and showing further details of the vertical adjusting means of thescoop and auger assembly;

FIGURE 10 is a detail view in vertical section taken substantially uponthe plane indicated by the section line 1iil of FIGURE 9 and showingfurther details of the vertical adjusting and mounting means;

FIGURE 11 is a perspective detail view of the vertical adjustmentmounting means of the scoop and auger;

FIGURE 12 is a further perspective detail view, similar to FIGURE 11 butwith parts omitted, of the vertical adjustment mounting means;

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of a component of the vertical adjustingmounting means and which is shown removed from the device of FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a further detail view in vertical section of a visual gaugecomprising another portion of the invention and is taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by section line 1414 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 15 is a perspective view, parts being broken away, and indicatingthe mounting of the power transmission units and their control means inaccordance with this invention; I 7

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary detail view in vertical transverse sectionillustrating the rock shaft mounting forming a part of the verticaladjusting means of the scoop and anger assembly together with themounting of the same;

FIGURE 17 is a further detail view of the rock shaft mounting taken invertical transverse section substantially upon the plane indicated bysection line 17-17 of FIG- URE 15;

FIGURE 18 is a fragmentary perspective view of a slight modification;

FIGURE 19 is a detail view in vertical section taken substantially uponthe plane indicated by the section line 19-19 of FIGURE 18; and

FIGURE 20 is a detail view of a further modification, takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 20-20 ofFIGURE 18.

In the accompanying drawings, the numeral designates generally anysuitable form of tractor to which the scoop and auger assembly indicatedgenerally at 12 is mounted and from which this assembly is powered. Thescoop and auger assembly is disposed forwardly of the tractor and isfixedly but adjustably secured thereto in such a manner that uponforward movement of the tractor, the scoop and auger assembly may beboth vertically adjusted and tilted with respect to its transversehorizontal axis in order to position the scoop and the auger at thedesired inclination with respect to the mass of earth or other materialwhich is to be moved by the device. During forward movement of theapparatus the scoop will push the material forwardly, piling it upwithin the region of the scoop while the continuously rotating augercomponent of the device will continuously convey the piled up materialto be discharged at one side of the device.

Inasmuch as the tractor may be of conventional design, a detaileddescription of the same is deemed to be unnecessary except for certainspecific conventional elements and components thereof referred tohereinafter, while the conventional power plant of the tractor, notshown, is utilized to effect both travel of the tractor and supply thepower for effecting rotation of the auger at various selected speedratios therebetween.

The scoop component of the device consists of a transversely elongatedarcuate blade 14 extending across the entire width of the tractor andbeyond both sides thereof, which blade is provided with a cutting lip orcutting edge 16 at the bottom end thereof as shown best in FIG- URE 9.Rotatably journaled in suitable support structure of the scoop or blade14 is the auger 18. As shown in the cutaway portion at 20 in FIGURE 7,the blade or spiral flights 22 of the auger are at a slight inclinationsuch that they will tend to lift the earth or material being moved bythe auger rather than pack down or compress the same. For this purpose,of course, the auger will rotate in one direction, this being aclockwise direction as viewed from the right end of FIGURE 7.

In a manner to be subsequently set forth, the shaft of the auger isjournaled at its opposite ends in the scoop blade 14 with one end of theauger extending beyond the scoop and into a chain gear drive casing 24by means of which the power for rotating the auger is supplied.

The scoop and auger assembly 12 is supported from the tractor by a threepoint suspension, consisting of a pair of lower support arms eachdesignated by the numeral 26, together with an upper or stabilizing arm28. This arm arrangement will be more readily apparent from aconsideration of FIGURES 1, 2, 4, 5 and 8.

The lower suppport arms 26 are pivoted as at 30 to a suitable portion ofthe framework of the tractor 10 at one end of each, and at their otherends are secured as by universal or swiveling connections 32 to mountingbrackets indicated generally by the numeral 34 upon the rear and lowerportion of the scoop 14. The upper portion of the rear face of the scoop14 and preferably adjacent the mid-portion thereof is connected to thestabilizing arm 28, which arm is likewise secured to a portion of theframework of the tractor as at 36 as shown in FIGURE 4. The stabilizingarm 28 preferably comprises two telescoping rods, which thereby are ofvariable length to compensate for the lifting and lowering of the scoopand anger assembly 12 by the lift arms 26.

As will be appreciated, any suitable lost motion connection will beprovided at the pivotal connection of the lower support arms 26 to theassembly to allow for the desired tilting of the assembly thereon.

Referring now especially to FIGURES 2, 4, 6, 15-17, it will be notedthat the tractor includes a pair of longitudinal side frame members 38which are of channel beam construction, and between which is secured ahollow shaft or dead axle 40, see FIGURE 17, upon which is rotatablymounted as by bearing assemblies 42 a hollow rocker shaft 44. For thispurpose, the removable mounting plate 46 is secured in slots 47 in thechannel members 38 as by fastening bolts 48 and carries an inwardlyprojecting stub axle 50 which is received in and supports the ends ofthe dead axle 40. Thus, the axle 40 and the rocker shaft 44 may bereadily removably secured between the frame members of the tractor atthe front end thereof.

Secured to and projecting radially from the two opposite ends of therocker shaft 44 are angularly disposed lever arms 52 and 54. The arm 52is apertured and connected to tension spring 56 which as shown in FIGURE15 is anchored to a suitable apertured anchor lug 58 carried by anyconvenient portion of the tractor. The tension spring 56 is adjustablyanchored as by the adjusting nuts 59, see FIGURE 4, so that anadjustable counterbalancing torque can be applied to the rocker shaft.The lever arms 54 in turn are each pivotally connected as at 60 to alifting link 62 whose lower end is pivoted as at 64 to the lift arm 26.Thus, upon rotation or oscillation of the rocker shaft 44, the lift arms26 and thus the scoop and auger assembly can be selectively lifted orlowered.

In order to impart rocking movement to the rocker shaft 44, there issecured thereto a bifurcated lug 66, see FIGURE 16, to which is pivotedat 68 the piston rod 70 of a fluid pressure operating cylinder unit 72,see FIGURE 4, and which is suitably secured to the framework of thetractor. As will be appreciated, the cylinder unit 72 is connected tothe hydraulic power take-off of the tractor so that upon actuation ofthe unit 72, the piston rod 70 thereof may be positively moved in eitherdirection to thereby rock the shaft 44 to effect raising or lowering ofthe scoop and auger assembly as desired.

As will be more readily apparent from a consideration of FIGURES 2, 5, 8and 9, there is provided a further hydraulically operated cylinder andpiston unit 74 those lower end is pivotally secured to one of the liftarms 26, and whose upper end is secured to a mounting bracket 76 at theupper backside of the scoop blade 14, as shown in FIGURE 8. Thishydraulic operating means is likewise connected in any suitable manner,not shown, to the hydraulic power take-off of the tractor so that uponenergization of the same one side of the scoop and auger assembly can beraised or lowered with respect to the associated lift arm 26, and withthe other side of the assembly having a swiveling motion upon the otherlift arm 25 to thereby tilt upwardly or downwardly the scoop and augerassembly with respect to the horizontal transversely extending axis. Itwill be noted that owing to the mounting of the scoop and auger assemblyinwardly from its extremities, the lifting of one side or end thereofwill cause a corresponding slight downward movement of the other side orend. Although the invention is not limited thereto, it has been found tobe extremely satisfactory to provide for range of movement of about 30between the upmost tilted position and the lowermost tilted position.

As so far described it will now be understood that by raising orlowering the lift arms by the cylinder 72 and rock shaft 44 the entirescoop and anger assembly may be raised or lowered to any desiredvertical position, while independently thereof and simultaneouslytherewith if desired, the tilting power unit 74 may be energized toeffect the desired tilting movement of the assembly. Thus, the scoop andauger assembly may be very precisely positioned with regard to thesurface to be scraped or graded and the material to be moved in order toeffect to a nicety the desired moving operation.

The present invention involves an improved construction of mountingbracket 34 to effect the desired tilting movement of the scoop and augerassembly. For consideration of the structure and operation of thismounting bracket and the associated connections therewith, attention isnow directed particularly to FIGURES 9l3. As shown in FIGURE 8 the rearface of the scoop blade 14 is provided with a pair of verticallyextending reinforcing or stiffening bars 80 which are welded thereto andextend from the top to the bottom edge of the blade. Secured to andprojecting laterally from the sides of the reinforcing bars 80 andwelded thereto are brackets 82 and $4. The lift arms 26 are receivedwithin these brackets and are swiveled thereto by pivot pins 32 for thebracket 82 and a further pivot pin 86 for the bracket 84. Associatedwith the bracket 82 is a sliding bracket to which is coupled the tiltingcylinder 74. This sliding bracket, as will be seen by particularreference to FIGURES 11 and 13, is of U-shaped construction and isindicated generally by the numeral 90, consisting of a pair of platesconstituting legs 92 and 94 which are joined by a web 96. One of thelegs such as the leg 92 is provided with an upwardly extending guidemember 98, while both of the legs are provided with aligned apertures100 in which is received the previously mentioned pin 32. From the uppersurface of the web 96 projects an apertured lug 102 in which is receivedand to which is connected the tilt cylinder 74 by a pivot pin 104.

As will now be best apparent from FIGURES l0 and 11, in conjunction withFIGURE 8, it will be noted that the legs 92 and 94 of the slidingbracket 90 straddle the stationary mounting bracket 82 and embrace thisbracket and the associated reinforcing barv In this relation, the pivotpin 32 which is fixedly carried by the bracket 90 is slidably receivedin vertically elongated slots 1G6 and 1% which are formed in the bracket82 and in the reinforcing bar 80 so that the sliding bracket 90 issecured to the mounting bracket 82 and to the assocated reinforcing bar39 for guided vertical sliding movement relative thereto. The guidemember 98 of the sliding bracket is slidably received in a guide bushing110 suitably secured to the rear face of the scoop blade 14 as will beapparent from FIGURES 9 and 11.

It will be further observed that there is provided a further verticallyextending guide block 112 which is welded to the bracket 82 as shownmore clearly in FIGURE 12 to provide a guiding surface against which therear face of the plate 92 slidingly abuts. This tends to reduce wear ofthe pivot pin 32 of the sliding bracket in the slots M6, 168 of thestationary bracket 82.

As so far described it will now be apparent that operation of the liftarms 26 will through the connection of the latter with the bracket 84and with the sliding bracket 90 raise or lower these brackets. Thebracket 84 being direct- 1y connected to the scoop blade will thus liftor lower its portion of the scoop blade directly, while the slidingbracket will through its connection to the lug 102, the tilting cylinder74 and the lug 76 in turn lift or lower its end of the scoop blade.However, adjustment of the tilting cylinder will vary the relativetilting support of the scoop blade upon the lift arms independently ofthe lifting or lowering of the same.

The drive means for rotating the auger 18 is mounted upon the rear faceof the scoop blade 14. Referring now to FIGURES 1, 4, 6 and 8 it will beseen that there is provided upon one end of the auger blade, in additionto the housing 24, a further housing 114. Disposed adjacent the midportion of the upper part of the back surface of the scoop blade 14 is amounting bracket 116. A further mounting bracket 11.8 is disposed inparallel relation to the bracket 11d. Journaled between the brackets 116and 118 is a conventional automotive rear end differential gear unit 12%in which is secured the power output end of a drive shaft 122 whilewithin this differential unit mating bevel gears, not shown, connect theinput shaft with a lay shaft or power output shaft 124. The latter inturn is journaled in the other housing 114, where through a sprocketchain drive 126 it transmits power to a further sprocket chain drive1255 which latter imparts rotation to the auger. These chain drivesconstitute a reduction gearing assembly.

Referring now particularly to FIGURE 4 and with reference to FIGURES 15and 16, it will be understood that the power input shaft is connected byuniversal joint coupling to a driving shaft 136 which latter derives itspower from the tractor engine as set forth hereinafter. It will beapparent that by this universal joint connection, the supply of power tothe auger is not interrupted by either lifting or lowering of the scoopand auger assembly by the lift arms and the associated mechanism or bythe tilting of the same.

Referring now especially to FIGURE 15 in conjunction with FIGURE 4 itwill now be appreciated that power from the engine is delivered througha series of conventional serially connected change speed transmissionunits. The engine first delivers power to the first transmission unit132, then by a connecting shaft 134 to the second transmission unit 136,and from the latter by a connecting shaft 138 to the third transmissionunit 140.

From the last mentioned unit, a driving connection such as a sprocketchain drive 142 disposed in a housing or casing 144 supplies powerdirectly to the wheels of the tractor in a conventional manner, Wellunderstood and not shown. Each of the transmissions is individuallyadjustable by the usual gear shift levers 146, 148 and i). Conveniently,although the invention is not limited thereto, the transmission 132,provides five speed ratios, while each of the units 1% and 14% providesfour speed ratios as diagrammatically suggested in FIGURE 3. It will beapparent that for any one of five different speed ratios supplied by theengine to the shaft 134, the unit we will in turn permit the use of anyone of four different speed ratios to be applied to the shaft 138, whilethe transmission unit will in turn additionally afiiord four furtheroutput speed ratios for any input speed to impart through gearing 142 tothe Wheels of the vehicle. Thus a wide variety of speed ranges isafforded for the vehicle for a given constant speed of rotation of thevehicle engine. For example, the speed of the vehicle may range betweenthree feet per minute to 45 miles per hours in order to accommodate thespeed of the vehicle most effectively to the operation of the auger inthe moving of earth for various purposes.

From the rst transmission unit 132 as shown in FIG- URE 4 there isprovided a power takeoff housing 152 to which the power drive shaft 13%is connected. The output housing 152 has therein a coupling to the firsttransmission unit 132 such that the speed limit of the shaft 138 isdirectly proportional to the speed of rotation delivered into the firsttransmission unit and is not effected by any change in the speed ofratios of the power output from the first transmission unit. Thus, for agiven engine speed, although wide variation is possible in the vehiclespeed, a constant speed of rotation of the anger is maintained. Thisauger speed is selected in order to obtain the most efiicient operationof the auger itself, which efficiency of operation lies in a relativelynarrow range of rotation.

Referring again more specifically to FIGURE it will be observed that thepower drive shaft 130 has its forward end journaled in a suitablejournal bearing 154 and is connected by universal joint 156 to a pair oftelescoping axially slidable but relatively non-rotatable shaft sections158 and 161). The shaft 160, in turn, is connected by universal joint tothe previously mentioned shaft 122 of the differential unit 120. Thus,compensation is made for angular tilting of the scoop and auger assemblyas well as the lifting and lowering of the same.

A convenient control means is provided whereby the operator of thedevice from the drivers seat at the front end of the tractor mayselectively actuate any of the control levers of the three transmissionunits. Again referring to FIGURE 15 it will be seen that there areprovided the manually operated control levers 162, 164 and 166, eachmounted upon suitable support brackets upon the floor of the tractor,and being connected by control links 168, 176 and 172 to the threetransmission levers 146, 148 and 150 previously mentionedA Thus, thedriver at all times can regulate the speed of the vehicle to accommodatethe machine to the particular conditions under which it is to operate.

In order to facilitate accurate manipulation of the scoop and augerassembly as to vertical and tilting adjustment of the same, there isprovided a visual gauge means mounted thereon. For this purpose,referring to FIG- URES 6 and 14, it will be seen there is mounted atransersely extending hollow member 174 across the top edge of the scoopblade 14 and at about the mid portion thereof. Received in this memberis a block of rubber or other material 176 in which is embedded apointer rod 178 projecting upwardly therefrom. Since this pointer rod isfixedly secured to the scoop blade, it is evident that raising orlowering of the scoop blade and tilting of the same will correspondinglyshift the position of the gauge rod, the tilting adjustment beingindicated as shown by a comparison of full and dotted line positions ofthe rod in FIGURE 14. As will be seen, the blade may be tilted withoutvarying its pitch or suction angle.

Reference is now made to FIGURES l8 and 19 which disclose a somewhatsimpler combined elevating and tilting mechanism for the scoop and augerassembly falling within the basic concept of this invention and whichmay be employed advantageously in certain environments.

The tractor 10 having the slotted frame members 38 has a rocker shaft234 journaled thereon with the lever arms 52 and 54 as previouslydescribed. However, the same construction of scoop and auger assembly 12previously disclosed is adjustably mounted in a modified manher. To thetransverse tractor frame member 41 is secured a bracket 43 comprisingthe anchor lug of the previously mentioned stabilizing arm 28 attachedto the scoop 14.

An actuating hydraulically operated cylinder and piston unit 200 has itscylinder 202 pivoted at 204 to an L-shaped bracket 206 secured to theframe member 41 and projecting rearwardly and downwardly therefrom. Thepiston rod 208 of the unit 200 is pivoted at 210 to a lever arm 212which is fixed to and depends from the rocker shaft 234. This providesfor a compact mounting of the hydraulic actuating means beneath therocker shaft.

The lower support arms 26 are each pivoted at 30 to .the tractor frameas previously described and are swivelly pivoted to the blade 14.However, the two rigid links 62 and the tilting cylinder mechanismpreviously described .are replaced by asingle rigid link 62 and anadjustable 8 link 220. The adjustable link includes a hydraulicallyoperated cylinder 222 pivoted to the lift arm 26 at 224 and having itspiston rod 226 pivoted at 228 to the other of the levers 54.

Operating connections, conduits and controls, not shown, connect thecylinders 202 and 222 to the tractor hydraulic power take-off. In thisform of the invention the cylinder unit 229 is operated to give anydesired upward or downward tilt to the blade 14 about its swivelingconnection to the lift arm 26 to which the rigid link 62 is connected.The cylinder 202 operates the rocker shaft 234 to lift or lower thescoop. Thus, the tilting can be effected either independently of or inconjunction with the elevating of the scoop as in the preceding form,but the tilting unit is incorporated into the elevating mecha nism as apart thereof.

As set forth above, this modification may be employed with the rockershaft construction as disclosed and described in connection with FIGURES15-17. It may be preferred, however, to utilize the somewhat simplifiedform shown in detail in FIGURES 19 and 20.

The side frame members 38 have the usual slot 47 into which is slidablyreceived the journal boxes 239 carrying the bearing assemblies 232 inwhich is rotatably supported the end portions of a single solid ortubular shaft 234, retained as by any suitable fastener as a collar 236.The shaft 234 has the same arms 52, 54, 212 as previously described.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An earth moving machine comprising a tractor, a scoop and augerassembly including a scoop blade and a spiral auger journaled upon saidblade, means adjustably mounting said assembly upon said tractor, saidassembly extending transversely and in front of the tractor, means forvertically lifting said assembly, power operated means for tilting saidassembly about a horizontal axis disposed longitudinally of the machinewhile the pitch of said blade remains constant, drive means connectingthe tractor power plant to said auger for rotating the latter at aconstant speed independently of varying speeds of the tractor.

2. The combination of claim 1 including a pair of power operated liftarms mounted upon the tractor for vertical swinging movement, meanspivotally connecting said lift arms to said scoop blade, said tiltingmeans being connected to one of said lift arms and to one portion onlyof said blade.

3. The combination of claim 1 including a pair of power operated liftarms mounted upon the tractor for vertical swinging movement, meanspivotally connecting said lift arms to said scoop blade, said lift armsbeing pivoted to said blade at spaced locations intermediate the ends ofsaid blade whereby to cause the opposite ends of the blade to tilt inopposite directions upon operation of said tilting means.

4. An earth moving machine comprising a tractor, a scoop and angerassembly including a scoop blade and a spiral auger journaled upon saidblade, means adjustably mounting said assembly upon said tractor, saidassembly extending transversely and in front of the tractor, means forvertically lifting said assembly, power operated means for tilting saidassembly about a horizontal axis disposed longitudinally of the machinewhile the pitch of said blade remains constant, drive means connectingthe tractor power plant to said auger for rotating the latter at aconstant speed for varying speeds of the tractor, said drive meansincluding sprocket reduction gearing connecting said auger to said powerplant.

5. An earth moving apparatus comprising a scoop blade, means supportingsaid scoop blade for movement along a path of travel with said bladelying transversely of said path of travel, lift means carried by saidsupport means and secured to said blade for lifting and lowering thelatter, tilting means connected to one of said lift means and to saidblade for tilting the latter about another of said lift means, an augerrotationally mounted upon and disposed parallel to said blade, means fordriving said auger, a lost motion connection between said blade and saidone lift means.

6. The combination of claim wherein said connection comprises astationary bracket secured to said blade, a sliding bracket fixedlysecured to said first lift means, means slidingly and guidinglyretaining said sliding bracket on said fixed bracket.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein the last mentioned means comprisesa pin pivotally connecting said first lift means and said slidingbracket, and guide slots in said stationary bracket slidably receivingsaid pin.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said sliding bracket and saidstationary bracket are relatively slidably and embracingly engaged.

9. The combination of claim 8 including additional guide means and saidblade slidably engaging said sliding bracket.

10. An earth moving machine comprising a transversely extending scoopand auger assembly and means supporting said assembly for forwardmovement over the ground,

said assembly including a scoop blade having a concave auger upon saidblade for rotation about a stationary axis disposed forwardly of saidface, said auger being disposed to discharge material collected by saidblade to the side thereof, means connected to said auger for effectingrotation thereof independently of the movement of said blade over theground, adjusting means connected to said blade and to said support foreffecting tilting without varying the pitch of said blade and of theauger carried thereby, a source of power, power transmission meansconnecting said source of power to said support means for effectingtravel of the latter over the ground and to said auger rotating meansfor effecting rotation of said auger.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said auger rotating meansincludes a gear casing mounted upon the rear face of said blade, gearinginside said casing and drive means connecting said gearing to one end ofsaid auger outwardly beyond the end of said blade.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,677,342 Hodgen July 17, 1928 2,109,393 Le Bleu Feb. 22, 1938 2,464,003Stadler Mar. 8, 1949 2,503,408 Phillips Apr. 11, 1950 2,827,717 Duke etal. Mar. 25, 1958 2,839,849 Christensen et a1 June 24, 1958 2,950,550French Aug. 30, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 569,851 Canada Feb. 3, 1959

1. AN EARTH MOVING MACHINE COMPRISING A TRACTOR, A SCOOP AND AUGER ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A SCOOP BLADE AND A SPIRAL AUGER JOURNALED UPON SAID BLADE, MEANS ADJUSTABLY MOUNTING SAID ASSEMBLY UPON SAID TRACTOR, SAID ASSEMBLY EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY AND IN FRONT OF THE TRACTOR, MEANS FOR VERTICALLY LIFTING SAID ASSEMBLY, POWER OPERATED MEANS FOR TILTING SAID ASSEMBLY ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS DISPOSED LONGITUDINALLY OF THE MACHINE WHILE THE PITCH OF SAID BLADE REMAINS CONSTANT, DRIVE MEANS CONNECTING THE TRACTOR POWER PLANT TO SAID AUGER FOR ROTATING THE LATTER AT A CONSTANT SPEED INDEPENDENTLY OF VARYING SPEEDS OF THE TRACTOR. 